Rimming-machine.



No. 733,826. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903. G. A. ENSIGN.

RIMMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

N0 MODEL lunnuuu WITNESSES:

' A TTOHNE YS.

No. 733,826. PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

- e. A. ENSIGN.

RIMMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION P-ILBD NOV. 12, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEETQ WITNESSES: INVENTOI? I ATTORNL-? .No. 733,826. PATBNI'ED JULY 14, 1903. I

} G. A. ENSIGN.

RIMMING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH I'ILBD NOV. 12, 1902.

N0 MODEL.-

5 sums-sum s.

INVENTOR ie wyefl. [#5911 A TTOHNE H UNITED STATES Patented July 14., 1903*.

PATENT OFFI E.

GEORGE A. ENSIGN, or DEFIANGE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO DEFIANCE MACHINE WORKS, on DEFIANCE, OHIO.

RlMMlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,826, dated July '14, 1903.

Application filed November 12, 1902. serial No. 131.012. (No model.) i

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known thatI, GEORGE A. ENSIGN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Defiance, in the county of Defiance and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved. Rimming-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to woodworking machinery; and its object is to provide a new and improved rimming-machine more especially designed for automatically driving or pushing Wheel-rim sections onto the tenons of the spokes for cutting 0% the surplus portions of a rim-section to insure proper abutment of the ends of the rim-sections.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a front perspective view of the improvement; Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the improvement. Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section of the actuating mechanism for the plungercarriage, the section being on theline 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig.6 is an end elevation of the sawing device for cutting off the overlapping portion of a rim-section, and Fig. 7 is a transverse section of parts of the clutch and actuating device.

In the improved rimmingmachine presently to be described in detail a hub A, with its spokes A radiating therefrom, is mounted on a revoluble support B, and rim-sections A are placed by the operator on a table 0 and guided to bring the apertures A in the rimsections in alinement with the tenons A? of the spokes.- When this is done, driving devices, such as plungers D, D, D and D mounted, preferably, in'pairs on reciprocating carriages E and E, are caused to act on the peripheral face of the rim-section A in alinement with the corresponding spokes to drive or push the rim-section inward to engage the openings A thereof with the tenons A' of the spokes, each plunger pushing the rim-section a distance along the tenon, and this distance corresponds to a portion of the length of the tenonthat is, when four plungers are employed, as shown in the drawings-then each pushes the rim inward a distance of onequarter of the length of the tenons, and the first plunger drives the rim onto the outer quarter portion of the tenon. The next plunger drives the rim one-half on the tenon, the third one onto three-quarters of the tenon, and the fourth plunger pushes the rim home on the outer end of the spoke. When three plungers are employed, each pushes the rim inward one-third of the length of the tenon. For wheels having sixteen spokes I prefer to employ four plungers, as shown; but for wheels with twelve or fourteen spokes the plunger D is omitted and the other plungers are so adjusted sid ewise as to causethe plungers to stand simultaneously radially to a corresponding number of successive spokes. In ordinary carriage and bu ggy wheels usually but two rim-sections are employed, but for wagon-wheels and other heavy Wheels more than two rim-sections are used; but in either case the sections are driven or pushed in by the driving devices to graduallyengage the rimsections with the tenons of the spokes. In case the ends of the sections overlapthatis, one section is'longer than necessary-then the operator makes use of a circular'saw F, operating through a slot 0 in thetable O to cut off the overlapping portion for the ends of the rim-sections to abut properly.

Each of the plungers D, D, D and D is provided at its inner end with a head D fastened in place on the plunger by a setscrew D and each plunger-is provided with a screw-thread D, screwingin threaded bearings G and G, of which the bearing G is also a clamping-bearing-that is, can be firmly closed or clamped onto the plunger by the use of a screw rod G to hold the plunger againstlongitudinal movement after it is once adjusted. Each outer end of the plungers D, D, D and D is provided with a handwheel D to enable the operator to conveniently turn the plunger so as to screw the same inward or outward in its bearings G G to adjust the plungers relative to the size of the wheel under treatment. Then the desired adjustment is made, the screw-rod G is screwed up to securely clamp the corresponding plunger in position. The bearings G G are held on plates G fastened by bolts Gr to the corresponding; carriages E E'-that is, the bolts G for the plates G carrying the plnngers D, D and D are adapted to engage different sets of openings in the said carriages E and E (see Fig. 3) to allow sidewise adjustment of the plates G to adapt the ma chine for wheels having different numbers of spokes, as previously mentioned. It is understood that the plate G, carrying the first plunger D, need not be changed; but the plates of the following plungers D, D and .l') are shifted relative to the plate for the plunger D whenever the machine is to be used for wheels having different numbers of spokes.

The carriages E and E are mounted to slide on suitable bearings H, carried by the bed or main frame II of the machine, it being understood, however, that the said carriages slide radially relative to the support B, and the plungers D, D, D and D likewise stand radially to the said support and are lengthwise adjustable in their bearings, as previously explained.

In order to give the desired reciprocating motion to the driving devices, the under side of the carriages E and E is formed with bearings in the form of spaced parallel lugs E (see Fig. 5,) engaged by eccentrics I, secured on the upper ends of carriage-shafts I and 1 respectively, mounted to turn in suitable bearings arranged on the bed ll. Now when the shafts I and l are rotated then their eccentrics l impart a reciprocating motion to the carriages E and E to move the plungcrs bodily to and from the rim-section A On the lower ends of the carriage-shafts I and l are secured bevel gear-wheels 1 in mesh with pinionslflsecured on a transverelyextending shaft 1 journaled in suitable bear ings on the bed H. On the shaft 1 is fastened a bevel gear-wheel 1, in mesh with a bevel gear-wheel J, secured on a drivingshaft J, extending longitudinally and journaled in suitable bearings on the rear side of the bed H, as plainiyindicated in Fig. 2. On the drivingshaft J is mounted to rotate loosely a pulley J connected by belt with other machinery for imparting a rotary mo- K, pressed on by a spring K to normally hold the clutch K out of engagement with the clutch member on the pulley J. The shiftt ing fork K" is secured on the rear end of a shaft K extending transversely and journaled 1n the bed H, and on the front end of the said shaft K. is secured an arm K (see engagement with the pulley J Figs. 1 and 3,) provided at its free end with a friction-roller K engaged at its under side by a friction-roller L, jonrnaled in the free end of a transverse arm L, (see Fig. 7,) at tached to a treadle-shaft L journaled in suitable bearings on the front of the bed H. The treadle-shaft L is provided with a treadlearm L adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator to enable the latter to press the said arm downward to impart a turning motion to the treadle-shaft L for swinging the arm L upward to impart an upward swinging motion to the arm K to turn the shaft K When this takes place, the shifting fork K on the arm K moves the friction-clutch K in engagement with the pulley J so that the rotary motion of the latter is transmitted by the clutch K to the shaft J, which by the bevel gear-wheels J and I imparts a rotary motion to the shaft 1 The rotary motion of this shaft 1 is transmitted by the pinions I and bevel gear-wheels 1 to the shafts I and l for imparting a reciprocating motion to the carriages E and E, as previously explained.

On the treadle-shaft L is secured a transversely-extending arm L ,carrying a frictionroller L normally standing in a notch L formed on the peripheral face of a wheel L, secured on the lowerend of the shaft 1. Now when the operator has pressed the treadlearm L and the shafts I and I are rotated, as above mentioned, then the notch L in the wheel L travels a distance past the frictionroller L and when the operator releases the treadle L this friction-roller travels on the peripheral face of the wheel L", and in doing so it holds the treadle-shaft L in depressed condition, so that the clutch K remains in Now when the shaft 1 has made a complete revolution, and thereby given a complete inward-andoutward stroke to its carriage, then the notch L moves opposite the friction-roller L to allow this friction-roller to drop into the notch, thus causing the return movement of the en.- tire treadle mechanism, the shifting fork,and clutch K, owing to the action of the spring K so that the shafts J, 1', and I come to a standstill, while the pulley J keeps on rotating. Thus after the driving devices have moved inward and pressed the rim onto the tenons of the spokes and then back again into their outermost position they come to a standstill, so as to enable the operator to turn the partly-finished wheel a distance between the outer ends of adjacent spokes for the driving devices to act on the rim-section at different points on the next forward movement of the carriages.

The support B is preferably made in the shape of a cylinder B, having a top flange 13, provided with a depending annular guard B and mounted on a ball-bearing B held on the top of a hollow bearing B vertically adjustable on a guideway I-lfiformed on the bed H. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) In an annular recess formed in the top of the flange 13 is removably held a centering-ring B for the reception of the lower end of the hubA, and the said ring can be readily interchanged for rings with different openings, according to the size of the hub A under treatment. Inside of the cylinder B is held vertically adjustable a disk N, on which rests the face of the lower end of the hub A, so as to properly support the same in the support 15. The disk N is secured on the upper end of a screw-rod N, screwing in a bottom plate B attached to the cylinder B, and on the lower end of the screw-rod N is secured a hand-wheel N under the control of the operator, for screwing the screw-rod N up or down to bring the disk N in the desired position to support the hub properly in the-bearing and. to hold the hub with its spokes in proper position relative to the driving devices, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 4. A looknut N screws on the screw-rod N and is adapted to abut againstthe under side of the bottom plate B to lock the screw-rod in position after the desired adj ustmentis made. The bearing 13 is providedon one side (see Fig. 1) with a screw B abutting on a lug H formed on the guideway H so as to allow of raising or lowering the bearing B and with it the cylinder B, to assistin accurately adjusting the bearing. in a vertical direction, according to the shape of the hub and rim sections to be treated. Bolts B serve to fasten the bearing B in position on the guideway H after the desired adjustment is made, the said bolts B extending through elongated slots in the bearing B as plainly indicated in Fig. 2.

The face of the upper end of the hub A is engaged by a head 0, connected by a balland-socketv joint 0 with the lower end of a screw-rod O screwing in an arm 0 mounted to turn on a post'O, erected on the bed H outside of the rim of the wheel under treatment, and on the hub of the said arm 0 is pivoted a lever 0 adapted to engage spaced notches O and O onthe post 0 to lock the .arm 0 in either of two positionsthat is,

' with the head 0 engaging the hub A, as

plainly shown in Fig. 4, or, when the arm 0 is swung to one side, with the head 0 out of engagement with the hub, to allow of placing another hub A and spokes in position on the support B. Now when the hub A is placed inposition on the ring B of the support and the disk N is moved up to engage the face of the lower end of the said hub then the operator swings the arm 0 over to bringthe screw-rod O in axial alinement with the hub A and screw-rod N, and then the operator turns the screw-rod O by manipulating the handle 0 of the said screw-rod correspondingly to screw the screw-rod downward to bring the head 0 in firm engagement with the upper face of the hub A. Now as the head 0 turns loosely on the screw-rod O it is evident that the head turns with the hub as thelatter is rotated by the operator in placing the several rim-sections A in-position.

The arbor F of the circular saw F is journaled in a bearing F and on the said arbor F is secured a pulley F connected by a belt with other machinery to impart a rotary motion to the circular saw. The bearing F is mounted to slide vertically on a guideway P, formed on a frame P, mounted to slide transversely on a guideway H securedto or forming part of the bed H. A screw-rod P is mounted to turn in a lug P ,'held on the guideway H and the said screw-rod screws in a nut P (see Fig. 4) to allow of convene iently adjusting the frame P in a transverse direction to bring the saw F in proper relation to the rim-section A to be cut ofi-that is, for wheels of large diameter the frame F is moved outward and for small wheels inward, so that the top of the saw is always directly below the wheel-rim. The outer end of the screw-rod P is provided with a handwheel P adapted to be taken hold of by the operator to turn the screw-rod to adjust the frame P for the purpose above-described. The top of the circular sawF is normally below the top of the table 0, and in order to bring the saw up to cut off the surplus or overlapping end of the rim-section the following device is provided: The bearing F (see Fig. 6) is pivotally connected by a link Q with an arm Q, fastened on a shaft Q journaled in a bracket R, adjustably secured to the guideway P, and the said arm Q is connected with one end of a spring Q secured at its other end to the under side of the table 0. On the shaft Q is fastened an arm Q pivotally connected by a link Q with a treadle Q fulcru med at Q on the bracket R. (See Fig. 2.) Now when it is desired to move the saw F upward through the slot 0 to cut off the overlapping end of the rim-section it is only necessary forthe operator" to press the treadle Q ,'so that the link Q pulls on the arm Q to turn the shaft Q which by the arm Q and link Q imparts an upwardsliding motion to the bearing F to move the sawF upward for the purpose above described. As soon as the operator releases the pressure on the treadle Q the several parts mentioned return by their own weight to a normal lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 6, the lower end of the bearing F then resting on a rubber block F held on the bracket R. The spring Q serves to counterbalance the saws'upporting device to insure easy up-and-down movement of the said device.

The bracket R, before referred to, can be vertically adjusted on the guideway P, and for this purpose a set-screw R is employed,

screwing in a lug R formed on the bracket B, (see Fig. 1,) and the bottom of this setscrew abuts against a lug R projecting from the frame P. By turning the set-screwR the bracket R may be raised or lowered, and

when the desired position has been reached the operator screws up bolts R to fasten the bracket in position on the guideway.

On the bracket R is formed a socket R, in which is held vertically adjustable a post C supporting the table 0, the adjustment of the post permitting bringing the top of the table in position to properly support the wheelrim section A it being understood that for wheel-rims of different widths it is necessary to adjust the table vertically to hold the rim so that its apertures register with the tenons on the ends of the spokes A. The front of the table O is provided with an apron or guard 0 extending down in front of the saw F to prevent the operator from accidentally coming in contact with the circular saw.

The operation is as follows: In order to conveniently place the hub and its radiating spokes in position in the centering-ring B of the support B, the arm 0 is swung to one side, and after the hub is in position in the ring 13 and rests on the disk N then the arm O is swung back to the position shown in the drawings and locked therein by engaging the lever O with the notch O. The operator now turns the handle 0 to screw the screw-rod 0 down to engage the head 0 firmly with the top of the hub, so that the hub is clamped between the disk N and head 0 and is then securely held against lateral movement and readily turns with the cylinder B, mounted to turn in the bearing The operator now by taking hold of a spoke turns the wheel and its support until a spoke stands in radial alinement with the first driving device, (the plunger D,) and then the operator moves the rimsection A over the table 0 to bring the first opening in the rim-section in register with the tenon of the said alined' spoke. The operator now presses the treadle-arm L to cause a reciprocation of the carriages, whereby the first plunger D drives or pushes the rim-section A onto the tenon about onefourth of the length thereof. During the return stroke of the carriages E E and the driving devices the operator turns the wheel until the spoke partly engaged by the rimsection stands in radial alinement with the second plunger D, and the second aperture in the rim-section A is now in register with the tenon on the second spoke, which latter now stands in radial alinement with the first plunger. 011 the next inward stroke of the carriages E E the second plunger D drives or pushes the rim-section onto the tenon about half the length of the tenon, while at the same time the first plunger D pushes the rim-section engaged by this plunger onto the outer end of the tenon of the second spoke. Vhen the carriages recede, the wheel is again given a partial turn to bring the first spoke in alinement with the third plunger D, the second spoke in alinement with the second plunger, and the third spoke and the corresponding aperture in the rim-section opposite the plunger D. On the inward stroke of teases the carriages the third plunger D pushes the rim three-quarters onto the ten on of the first spoke, and the plunger D pushes the rim one-half onto the tenon of the second spoke, while the plunger D pushes the rim onto the outer end of the tenon of the third spoke. On the next receding movement of the carriages the wheel is again turned to bring the first spoke in radial alinement with the fourth plunger D and the second, third, and fourth spolies in radial alinement with the plungers D D, and D, respectively, and when the carriages now move inward the plunger D drives the rim home on the tenon of-the first spoke, while the tenon of the second spoke is engaged three-quarters ofits length by the rim, the tenon of the third spoke is engaged one-half of its length by the rim, and the tenon of the fourth spoke is engaged one-quarter of its length by the rim. Now by the operator turning the wheel intermittently for the plungers to act on the wheel-rim the latter is gradually driven in position on the tenons of the spokes that is, the rim started on the tenon by the plunger D and finally driven home by the fourth plunger D The several sections of the rim are treated the same as described above, and in case the end of a section overlaps the adjacent end of a section already driven in position on the tenons then the operator presses the treadle Q to bring up the circular saw for the latter to cut off the surplus material or overlapping end of the rimsection. When the wheel is finished, the screw-rod O is screwed up, and then the arm 0 is unlocked and swung to one side and locked in place by the operator engaging the lever O with the recess 0 The wheel is now lifted off the support B, and another hub with radiating spokes is placed in position on the ring B, and the above-described operation is then repeated.

By having a plurality of driving devices acting successively and with an even force on the same part of the rim-section and in radial adjustment with a spoke it is evident that the rim is gradually driven onto the tenon, and hence injury to tenon, spoke, or rim is completely avoided.

From the foregoing it will be seen that very little skill is required on the part of the operator to properly attend to the work and the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Arimming-machine provided with a plurality of driving devices disposed radially, for engaging the peripheral face of the rimsections, to drive the same onto the tenons of spokes, the driving devices standing in alinement with a plurality of successive spokes and being arranged for driving the rim-sections successively farther in on the tenons of successive spokes, as set forth.

2. A rimming-machine provided with a rotatable support for a hub carrying spokes,

IIS

rsasae and a plurality of driving devices disposed radially, for engaging the peripheral face of the rim-sections, to drive the same onto the tenons of the spokes, the driving devices standing in alinement with a plurality of successive spokes and the said driving devices being arranged for driving the rim-sections successively farther in 'on the tenons of successive spokes, as set forth.

3. Arimmiug-machine provided with a plurality of adjustable driving devices, disposed radially, for engaging the peripheral face of the rim-section in alinement with corresponding spokes, the adjustment of the driving devices permitting driving rim -sections for wheels having different numbers of spokes, as set forth.

4. Arimming-machineprovided withas'upport for the hub carrying spokes, plungers standing radially to the support and in alinement with a corresponding number of successive spokes, and reciprocating carriages carrying the plungers, as set forth.

5. Arimming-machineprovided withasupport for a hub carrying spokes, plungers for driving a rim-section successively farther in on the tenons of successive spokes, and carriages carrying the plungers'and reciprocating radially relative to the said support, as set forth.

6. A rimmingmachine provided with a driving device, comprising a reciprocating carriage, plunger-bearin gs held adjustable on the carriage, and plungers held adjustable on the said bearings, as set forth.

7. A rimmingmachine provided with a driving device, comprising a reciprocating carriage, plunger bearings held adjustable on the carriage, and plungers held adjustable on the said bearings and in the direction of the movement of the carriage, as set forth.

8. A rimming-machine provided with a rotatable support for a hub carrying radiating spokes, a pluralityof reciprocating carriages moving radially relative to said rotatable support, bearings secured on the carriages, and plungers held in the said bearings and standing radially to the said support, as set forth.

9. A rimming-machine provided with a rotatable support for a hub carrying radiating spokes, a plurality of reciprocating carriages moving radially relative to said rotatable support, bearings secured on the carriages, and plungers held in the said bearings and standing radially to the said support, the said bearings being sidewise adjustable on the carriages, as set forth.

10. A rimming-machine provid ed with a rotatable support for a hub carrying radiating spokes, a plurality of reciprocating carriages movingradially relative to said rotatable support, bearings secured on the carriages, and plungers held in the said bearings and standing radially to the said support, the said plungers being lengthwise adjustable in their bearings, as set forth.

11. Arimming-machine provided with a r0- tatable support for a hub carrying radiating spokes, a plurality of reciprocating carriages moving-radially relative to said rotatablesupport, bearings secured on the carriages, and plungers held in the said bearings and standing radially to the said support, the said bean ings being sidewise adjustable on the carriages and the said plungers being lengthwise adjustable in their bearings, as set forth.

12. A rimming-machine provided with a rotatable support for a hub carrying spokes, a plurality of reciprocating carriages moving radially relative to the said rotatable support, bearings secured on the carriages, plungers held in the said bearings and extending lengthwise in the direction of the movement of the carriages, mechanisms for imparting motion to the said carriages, to reciprocate the latter in unison, and means for actuating the said mechanisms in unison, as set forth.

13. Arimming-machine provided with a rotatable support for a hub carrying spokes, a plurality of reciprocating carriages moving radially relative to the said rotatable support,

bearings secured on the carriages, plungers held in the said bearings and extendinglength- Wise in the direction of the movement of the carriages, mechanisms for imparting motion to the said carriages, to reciprocate the latter in unison, and means for actuating the said mechanisms in unison, comprising an operating-shaft, geared with the said mechanisms, and a driving-gear for the said operatingshaft, and having means arranged to automatically stop the driving-gear after the carriages have made a complete reciprocating movement, as set forth.

'14. A rimming-machine having a rotatable support for the hub of a wheel, comprisinga cylinder mounted to turn, a disk held vertically adjustable inside the cylinder, for supporting the lower end of the hub, and a centering-ring for the hub, removably held on the top of the cylinder, as set forth.

15. A rimming-machine having a rotatable support for the hub of a wheel, comprising a cylinder mounted to turn, a disk held vertically adjustable inside the cylinder, for supporting the lower end of the hub, a centering ring for the hub, removably held on the top of the cylinder, an arm mounted to swing, a screw-rod screwing in the arm, and a head loose on the screwrod, for engaging the outer end of the hub, as set forth.

16. In a rimming-machine, the combination with a vertically-disposed revoluble support provided with means for receiving and holding the hub of a wheel, of a saw-table for the rim of the wheel to rest on, the saw-table having a slot arranged radially relative tothe said wheel-support, a circular saw for cutting off the overlapping portion of a wheel-rim section, the said circular saw normally standing below the saw-table in vertical alinement with the said slot, a bearing for the said circular saw, a frame for the bearing to slide on, a

treadle, and a connection between the treadle and the said bearing, to slide the latter upward on pressing the treadle, as set forth.

17. In a rimming-n1achine, the combination with a vertically-disposed revoluble support provided with means for receiving and holding the hub of a wheel, of a saw-table for the rim of the wheel to rest on, the sawtable having a slot arranged radially relative to the said wheel-support, a circular saw for cutting oil? the overlapping portion of a wheelrim section, the said circular saw normally standing below the saw-table in vertical alinement with the said slot, a bearing for the said circular saw, a frame for the hearing to slide on,a1'readle, a connection between the treadle and the said hearing, to slide the latter upward on pressing the treadle, and a spring for holding the saw, the connection and the Lreadle in suspension, as set forth.

18. In arimming-machine,the combination with a vertically-disposed revoluble support provided with means for receiving and holding the hub of a wheel, of a saw-table for the rim of the wheel to rest on, the saw-table having a slot arranged radially relative to the said wheel-support, a circnlarsaw for cutting off the overlapping portion of a wheel-rim section, the said circularsaw normally standing below the saw-table in vertical alinement with the said slot, a bearing for the said circular saw, a frame for the bearing to slide on,

a treadle, a connection between the treadle and the said bearing, to slide the latter upward on pressing the treadle, and means for adjusting the said frame transversely, to bring the saw in proper relation to the wheelrim, as set forth.

19. In a rimminganachine, the combination with the means for holding the wheel and driving the rim, of a saw, and means for mounting the saw to move into and out of position, to act on the rim of the wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. A. ENSIGV.

Vitn esses:

-tnoncn W. Dnit'rnrcic, Jos. BAUER. 

